Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Demon Designation
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[Chapter 39]
“Yes. What’s going on? Ayoung’s mom?”
(I have something urgent to talk about. Can you come to the guild? It’s a long story.)
“Oh, alright. I’ll head over right away.”
I was curious about what it was, but if she was calling me directly like this, it clearly wasn’t a minor issue.
I sent the knights back, hurriedly broke through the danger zone, returned to Seoul, and headed straight to the guild.
What the hell was this about?
“Yes, I’m here, Guild Master! What’s going on?”
“You got here faster than I expected. Just now, the association called a meeting with the three major guilds and all the guilds participating in the subjugation force. And here’s what happened…”
The moment I arrived, she explained everything about what the association and guilds were up to.
And it was shocking.
What? Demon designation? So they fought among themselves trying to track me down, couldn’t find me, and pulled this bullshit?
“Man, that’s just ridiculous. I saved their asses from getting wiped out by an S-rank demon, and now they turn around and label me a demon? Impressive.”
“It’s not that surprising. Anyway, be careful from now on. And don’t use that ridiculous golden armor unless it’s a real emergency. That’s the only way they can identify you.”
“Got it. Well, I’ll be going then…”
Thanking her for the valuable intel, I left the guild.
I knew guilds and the association were scary, but not to this extent.
At this level, they weren’t treating people like people anymore—just resources in some RTS game.
‘I need to stay cautious, at least.’
In a week, I’d be officially a demon? Whatever. It was still damn good info—enough to cover skipping one dungeon run.
If I’d seen the news about being randomly designated a demon out of nowhere, I’d have been even more pissed.
It was already late anyway, so no more dungeons today. I headed straight back to my lodging.
“Huh? You’re back early today? Weren’t you gonna run two dungeons?”
“Something came up, so just one. Anyway, you eat yet?”
When I got back, Ayoung was lounging on my couch like it was her own home.
The backstory on letting her crash here was simple.
When I was in a dungeon, no contact. And texting to check if the place was clear for her to come over was a hassle, so she kept showing up at my door. The other exclusive staff thought it looked bad, so I gave her a key.
‘She thinks she’s being clever to get closer, but she can’t win against me.’
“Yeah, I ate. Heaven Class cafeteria stays open during break. Most of us stick around for the vacation assignment.”
“That dungeon clear thing, right.”
“But the rules suddenly changed, and everyone’s freaking out. The harmony-obsessed dean’s telling us to go with fellow students instead of guilds. They’ll only provide escorts to the dungeon. Guilds protested, but she shut them down, saying it’s a new experiment. Even for an S-rank hunter, isn’t that too much?”
“It’s tough on students, but… to staff, she’s an angel.”
Yeah. The final exams were like that too—the dean was always trying to break down the gaps between awakeners and the class system, even a little.
Her intentions were good, but the walls of reality were too high, and no one followed her idealistic ass, so students hated her.
But she went all out protecting and treating staff well, so to me, she was an angel of a dean.
“Wanna know the worst part? For this vacation assignment, they even put quotas on parties. Mandatory one Heaven, two Earth, three Human. Everyone lost it. ‘You trying to bus us?’ Guilds were rioting… but the golden knight thing stole the spotlight, so it got brushed under the rug.”
“That’s… too bad.”
Thinking about how that golden knight was me, this made the exam way harder because of me.
It was such a forceful measure, even I had nothing to say.
Wait, no matter what, Heaven Class shouldn’t be three times fewer than Human Class, right? How do they balance the ratios? And dungeon difficulties?
“So dungeons are fixed from D-rank and up—two steps below B. Higher rank means more points.”
“You’ve got it rough.”
“Already stressing over party comps. Ugh… Plus, a ton of Earth and Human kids went home. Everyone’s blowing up phones right now…”
Yeah, figures.
Unlike Heaven Class, who could rival pro hunters, Earth (C~D) and Human (E~F) were treated as students, so assignments were theory or field trips.
Throw something like this at Heaven Class out of nowhere? Chaos.
“Man, the dean’s really pushing it.”
“Driving me crazy. Finals were all ‘harmony’ this and that, and it just pissed off all the classes.”
“That’s why she’s doubling down.”
“She’s an S-rank who benefits from the class system herself. Anyone else pulling that would’ve been shredded. But she’s S-rank, so she gets away with it…”
“Yeah, fair point.”
I agreed—if the dean wasn’t one of the ten S-ranks in Korea, she’d have been fired ages ago.
Plus, Heaven Class kids had to grit their teeth through this bullshit because she was S-rank.
“Anyway, I’m screwed. By the time I finished morning training, the three major guilds snatched up everyone left in school or Seoul. Hiiing.”
“Well, grades aren’t everything~ Hang in there. Or just bail and focus on solo training?”
“Act out like that and piss off an S-rank? That dean lady’s a Seoul guild ace too. She doesn’t care if you suck—as long as you don’t slack! And I’m same martial arts lineage, so I’m extra on her radar. Haa~”
Poor thing.
I got it, though—passing plate mail or heavy armor made me twitch and pay attention.
Not sure if that’s empathy, but whatever.
Not enough to be Heaven Class future leader material? Nah, same lineage as the dean? Of course she’s watching.
“Guess you shouldn’t be sitting around then?”
“No choice. I’ll grab whoever’s left, clear enough D-ranks to not get rekt, and call it. C-ranks are no joke. Or wanna tag along for C-rank practice?”
“Nah. Not even level 40 yet, what…”
“Oh right. Uncle, aren’t you A-rank stats now? Growth looks top-tier too? Wanna try a C with us? You could join as staff…”
“No thanks.”
Already doomed to demon status—why show my power dungeoning with you?
Cooperation was fine, but partying? Pass.
My whole plan was minimal hunter life anyway.
“Tch, knew it. But it’s a waste. Someone like you should be hunting.”
“How, when you barely know me?”
“Like I said before… Normal awakeners get cocky and arrogant after picking a constellation and powering up. I was too. Mom beat that out of me… But you? Zero of that.”
Nah, that’s not it.
I’m just a scaredy-cat who got lazy about effort and all that—wanting to live moderately.
Flailing against the world after sudden awakening… A cowardly adult with zero redeeming qualities.
But I couldn’t say it.
Crushing the hopeful shine in that kid’s eyes? Trash move, even for a rotten bastard like me.
“Anyway, I’m out. Gotta round up dungeon members tomorrow ASAP, grind more, whatever. Points? Eh, take the hit. See ya.”
“Yeah, good luck.”
After seeing her off, I sighed, figuring I might as well knock out tomorrow’s dungeon report early.
***
Gyeonggi, Scavenger City. Penthouse hotel rooftop party venue.
“Hahahaha.”
“Kekekeke.”
After Jeong Min-su vanished, an unbelievable scene unfolded on the ownerless hotel rooftop outdoor party hall—nothing like a Scavenger city.
Amid beautiful music from a well-dressed orchestra, guests laughed heartily as they mingled and enjoyed the food.
The host watched the spectacle with satisfaction, continuing to serve.
“Tonight’s main course: A C-rank female under 18 from Russia, specially imported. To maximize her tender, juicy flavor, sous-vide for 72 hours, then plated with sauces made from her blood and organs, each body part sliced thin.”
The elderly man in blood-red priest robes—the host—served from a cart wheeled in by another, calmly explaining the prep as he distributed to guests.
His appearance didn’t suit a hotel chef, but he beamed as his guests savored it.
[Huff huff! Huff huff! Pastor I’s new dish! Woof woof! Drooling already!]
[Cluck cluck! So pretty even to look at. Cluck cluck! Why didn’t we think of this?]
[Mmm, but too small portions. Like last time—big BBQ.]
[Baa baa! Baa baa! Then go outside and chow on corpses like the rest? It’s about savoring flavor, not quantity. Thank Pastor I who taught us.]
But the ones enjoying it weren’t human.
Beastmen with heads of cow, pig, horse, sheep, chicken. Yet with horns, wings, grotesque sizes, and eyes gleaming with pure malice—they weren’t natural creatures.
These demon-beastmen. The ones “Pastor I” served were the true minions of constellation Slaughter King—not the fake human apostles—the archdemon beasts guarding his cathedral.
[Mmm, mmm~ But so damn good. Mmm~]
[Cluck cluck, savor it slow. Meat’s quality is great, but the soul’s marinated perfect in pain, despair, grief. How?]
“The ingredient was fed her own mother’s flesh. We cut and cooked her limbs right in front of her. That’s how the main course soul ripened so deliciously.”
[Cluck cluck cluck! Genius, Pastor I! Cluck cluck!]
The chicken-headed demon excitedly cleared his plate, praising Pastor I.
Meanwhile, the orchestra, other Scavengers, and demons working the party stared in horror, faces pale.
They’d betrayed humanity too, but none were as insane as “Pastor I” mingling with those demons.
[Cluck cluck, but personally, I liked last time’s fried one better. Can I order that? Cluck!]
“Of course. Plenty stocked for tonight’s banquet—just order, and it’s yours. One fried human, boneless? Boned? Seasoning?”
[Cluck cluck, boneless, no sauce. Cluck cluck. Oh! Don’t forget salt and organs fried.]
“Got it. Prep one fried human, boneless, from that fatty pig-bodied male. Deliver to Leghorn-nim.”
Pastor I radioed the kitchen right after the order.
Moments later, a man’s scream like he was being torn apart echoed over the rooftop music.
Leghorn, the demon, laughed in satisfaction. Pastor I smiled saintly, pleased with his customer, and headed to another beckoning demon.